10 Best Halloween Books for Primary School Readers
We’re confident that young readers will love sinking their fangs into any of these 10 Halloween books…
Suitable for KS1 and KS2, these books are great resources for content and inspiration during the spooky season.
Room on the Broom
Age Range: 2 to 5 years
Synopsis: The witch and her cat are joined by a dog, a bird and a frog, who would all like a ride on the broomstick. But the broom can’t take the weight and snaps in two, leaving them to fall down into a bog, where they’re met by a greedy dragon.
We think: “The book introduces a lot of interesting characters that excite and thrill young children.”
[link]
Funnybones
Age Range: 3 to 5 years
Synopsis: Big skeleton, little skeleton and dog skeleton venture out one night to look for somebody to scare. Finding no one else around in the middle of the night, they turn to scaring each other, and playing with the skeleton animals in the zoo.
We think: “The text is full of repetitions and has a strong rhythm, which makes it easy for young children to join in with.”
[link]
What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen?
Age Range: 3 to 7 years
Synopsis: Hiding in the witch’s magical kitchen cupboards is a trick or a treat. Open the door one way, you’ll be treated to lollipops, but open it in the other and you’ll be presented with rabbit plops.
We think: “This novelty book is a great way of introducing rhyming sounds to children developing their listening skills.”
[link]
Daisy and the Trouble with Vampires
Age Range: 5 to 7 years
Synopsis: It’s Halloween and it’s Daisy very first Trick or Treat outing. Off she goes, in the dark and fog, armed with only a torch, some silly string, and a vampire for company. Gulp!
We think: “It’s a good pick for children who like to read without being prompted.”
[link]
Vulgar the Viking and the Spooky School Trip
Age Range: 7 to 9 years
Synopsis: Vulgar is miserable about having to go to school, but when he learns that the famous Viking explorer Otto the Bone-Cruncher will be teaching hunting, his gloom turns to excitement. But is life as a hunter everything it’s cracked up to be?
We think: “It’s a thrilling adventure that teaches new vocabulary while introducing historical themes.”
[link]
The Worst Witch
Age Range: 7 to 9 years
Synopsis: Mildred Hubble is a trainee witch at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches, but she’s not very good at it. Her spells always go wrong and she can’t seem to stay on her broomstick. One day, she’s gets on the wrong side of Ethel, the teacher’s pet, and things continue at an even more chaotic rate.
We think: “It’s a classic story for advanced readers, and acts as a great stepping stone to the Harry Potter series.”
[link]
A Perfectly Ordinary School
Age Range: 8 to 11 years
Synopsis: Frankie gets teased at school and so his mum and dad decide to send him to a special school, where he’ll learn how to stand up to his classmates. But the teachers at the new school aren’t quite what he’s used to.
We think: “The language is written specifically to attract disengaged, reluctant or dyslexic readers.”
[link]
Johnny and the Dead
Age Range: 9 to 11 years
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Johnny Maxwell can see the Dead, and he’s got some bad news to deliver to them – the council want to sell the cemetery. The Dead aren’t going to take it lying down, but they might have to break a few rules to get what they want.
We think: “This story is a combination of humour and dark themes, suitable for readers improving in confidence.”
[link]
The Witches
Age Range: 9 to 11 years
Synopsis: The Grand High Witch has gathered together the witches of England for an annual conference at the Hotel Magnificent. The agenda: the elimination of all the children in the country. But can a young guest at the hotel and his grandma outwit them all?
We think: “It’s a classic full-length story that shouldn’t be missed by any reader in this age group.”
[link]
The Demon Headmaster
Age Range: 9 to 11 years
Synopsis: When Dinah is fostered by the Hunters, she must start at a new school. But the children don’t act normal. They are far too well-behaved and oddly keen to please the creepy headmaster. Will Dinah foil the headmaster’s evil plan before it’s too late?
We think: “It’s a simple race against the time plot, with an injection of more complex themes to engage advanced readers.”
[link]
The post Top 10 Halloween Books for Primary School Children appeared first on Headstart Primary.